From a field of 299 applications, Blast Theory’s Creative Team was one of 30 selected for the R&D phase of Festival UK* 2022.
We’re now developing an idea that can reach millions of people, and will pitch this idea to Festival UK* 2022 in February. Ten ideas will then be commissioned.
Led by Martin Green CBE (Director of Hull UK City of Culture 2017 and Head of Ceremonies for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games), Festival UK* 2022 is a £120m project described as:
“Festival UK* 2022 will be ten open, original, optimistic, large-scale and extraordinary acts of public engagement that will showcase the UK’s creativity and innovation to the world. Bringing people together in astounding ways, the festival will platform the full range of our creative imaginations by combining Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.”
Because we’re so passionate about public engagement and activating communities, Festival UK* 2022 is an astonishing opportunity for us. With our collaborators from art, science, engineering and design, we believe we can create a work that embodies the values of the festival: open, original and optimistic. Having worked with many of the Festival UK* 2022 team when they led Hull City of Culture, we know first hand their deep commitment to great art, to inclusion and to social change.
Along with Matt, Ju and Nick, Blast Theory’s Creative Team are:
Professor Steve Benford from the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham. Steve is a computer scientist who pioneered performance-led research involving collaborations between artists and technologists. We’ve collaborated with Steve and the Mixed Reality lab for over 20 years and made over a dozen works together.
Marc Boothe of B3 Media who “are the missing link between Britain’s multicultural communities and mainstream arts and media”. Through B3 Media Marc has supported over 3,000 Black and minority ethnic creatives.
Hwa Young Jung, a multidisciplinary, socially engaged artist working across arts, culture and sciences. Hwa Young was one of Blast Theory’s artists in residence in 2017.
Kevin Self from creative design and manufacturing firm Zone Creations, who have made anything from giant interactive perfume bottles to animatronic chickens.
Kerr Vernon, Creative Director at Glasgow-based Everything Will Be Fine. Kerr has produced award-winning design for commercial and arts brands including Glasgow International Festival.
Read more about Festival UK* 2022 and the Creative Teams here.
